Russian airspace handled over 1.5 million flights last year, the highest level in the country for three years.

Federal air transport regulator Rosaviatsia says the previous peak, 1.46 million, was recorded in 2014.

Russian airlines also transported 105 million passengers, up 15%, surpassing the 93.2 million level of three years ago.

Domestic routes accounted for two-thirds of the passenger volume, says Rosaviatsia chief Alexander Neradko.

Rosaviatsia data shows that airlines carried out 740,000 domestic flights while almost 790,000 international flights were conducted.

These included 281,000 flights transiting Russian airspace.

Last year's overall figure for the total number of flights amounts to an 8.2% increase and indicates a continuing recovery from the economic slump which has affected the country.

Russian authorities inaugurated a new air traffic centre in Moscow last year and, this year, two more are planned for Ekaterinburg and Tyumen.

Source: Cirium Dashboard